(Written 20 Jan 1778 (1777?))

(Probated 7 July 1778)

In the name of God Amen I John Wheelock of Lancaster in the County of Worcester Gent. being far advanced in Life and feeling the Decay of Nature [being?]¹ of a sound and Disposing Mind ... ...² do think fit to make and Ordain this my last Will and Testament My Soul may it rest on the Mercy of God [through?] the Mediation of his Dearly Beloved Son [Jesus Christ?]

-- My body I order to be buried in decent Christian Burial.

-- My Debts and Funeral Charges I order to be paid out of my estate as soon as may be after my Decease and if Oliver Wheelock Son of my Late Nephew Joseph Wheelock Deceased shall [serve?] me with his [labor?] in the care of my [self?] Wife and Estate so long as I live he shall receive [therefore?] thirty pounds per annum and at that rate for any shorter time he shall [so have?].

-- I give and bequeth to my Dearly Beloved Wife Martha Wheelock all my household furniture and I also give her the Improvements of all my other Estate real and Personal so long as she Remains my Widow.

-- I give and bequeth to Martha Wheelock Daughter of my S.³ Deceased Nephew fifteen Pounds to be paid [her?] by John Wheelock and the S. Oliver in one year after the termination of the estate given my said Wife I also give and bequeth to Joseph Archibald Abel Elijah and Allice Wheelock Children of my said deceased Newphew ten Pounds each to be paid them by their S. Brothers John and Oliver at the time of the Payment of the Legacy to their Sister Martha [Provided always that?] ... ... ... shall ... happen within fifteen [Months?] from this twentieth Day of Jan AD 1778 when the legacies to the Joseph Archibald Abel Elijah and Alice to be [Paid]

-- All the Rest and [residue?] of my Estate ... ... ... real, Personal, or ... I give and [divide?] to the S. John and Oliver Wheelock and their heirs equally as tenents in common to vest when the Estate to my Wife shall Terminate.

-- Finally I constitute and Appoint S. John Wheelock Jun. My Trusty and Well beloved Nephew Exexutor of this my last Will and Testament and I hereby Revoke all former Wills and testaments by me made in Witness [Whereof?] I hereunto put my hand and Seal this Twentieth Day of Jan in the Year of Our Lord One thousand seven hundred and Seventy Seven (sic)... ... ... before signing and sealing John Wheelock X   his Mark Seal. Signed Sealed and [Delivered?] pronounced and declared by the Testator to be his last Will and Testament in the Presence of us Who subscribe as Witnesses in the Presence of the said Testator and in the Presence of one and other Joseph White, Hepsibah Braybrook, X her Mark and Seal, John Sprague.

To all people to whom these presents shall come Levi Lincoln Esq. Judge of the Probate of Wills in the County of Worcester within the State of the Massachusetts Bay in New England Send .. Greeting Know ye that on the 7th Day of July Anno Dom. 1778 the .. her unto ... ... the Last Will and Testament of John Wheelock late of Lancaster Deceased was Presented for Probate by John Wheelock Junr, the Executor therein named ... Present Joseph White John Sprague two of the witnesses thereto subscribed who made oath that they saw the Sd. Testator Sign Seal and heard him Declare the S. Instrument to be his last Will and Testament and that they together with the other Subscribing Witnesses Subscribed their names together as Witnesses to the Execution thereof in the said testators presence and that he was then to the best of their judgement of a sound and disposing mind. I do Prove approve and allow of the said instrument as the last will and testament of the before named deceased and do [commit] the .... .... [share] of in all matters the same concerning and of his estate where of he died -- [seized?] and [p....?] in said County unto John Wheelock Jun the before named executor Well of ... freely to execute the said will and to administer the estate of the said deceased according thereto who accepted of his trust he shall exhibit a Price and ... inventory of said estate into the probate according to law and he shall render an account upon aoth of his proceedings when thereunto lawfully required In Testamony where of I have hereunto ... heard and ... of office the day and year above written.

Levi Lincoln, Judge of the Probate of Wills

Transcribed by Roderick B. Sullivan, Jr., 19 May 2001

Notes:

1. Letters in square brackets indicate difficulty of reading the original record, and constitute a guess. A question mark indicates further uncertainty.
2. "S." is an abbreviation for "Said".
3. "..." constitutes a word that was impossible to read.